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March 24, 2026
奖励(獎勵)jiǎnglì(jiang3li4)
奖励 (jiang3 li4) refers to the act of rewarding someone for their achievements or positive behavior. It is commonly used in contexts such as education, workplaces, and competitions to encourage continued effort and performance. This word embodies both the noun 'reward' and the verb 'to reward', highlighting its dual usage in motivating individuals.
Strokes16Frequency#3183DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, rewards are often used as a motivational tool in educational settings, where teachers encourage students not just through grades, but also through tangible rewards like gifts or certificates. This practice reflects the value placed on achievement and recognition in society.
Memory Tip
Think of the character 奖 (jiang3), which contains the radical for 'to speak' (言) and 'to raise' (将), as if someone is speaking praises to raise someone's spirits. The second character 励 (li4) resembles a person being encouraged through an action, like giving them a push to do better. Together, you can imagine a teacher speaking praises and lifting students’ morale with rewards.
Meanings of 奖励
jiǎnglì(jiang3li4)
1to reward
2reward (as encouragement)
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About 奖励
奖励Simplified
獎勵Traditional
16Strokes
—Radical
名动词dòngcíverb-noun (v.-n.)Part of Speech
#3183Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 奖励
Podcast: 奖励
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AI Study Notes for 奖励
Quick Contrast
奖励 (reward) vs 奖赏 (prize) — use 奖励 when referring to rewarding behavior or effort, while 奖赏 is more about giving a prize for winning or achieving something.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of the character 奖 (jiang3), which contains the radical for 'to speak' (言) and 'to raise' (将), as if someone is speaking praises to raise someone's spirits. The second character 励 (li4) resembles a person being encouraged through an action, like giving them a push to do better. Together, you can imagine a teacher speaking praises and lifting students’ morale with rewards.
Usage Notes
While 奖励 can be used in both formal and informal settings, it is particularly common in educational and corporate environments. A common mistake is to use it without a context; for example, saying '我奖励' (I reward) without specifying '谁' (who) or '什么' (what) can sound incomplete. Always pair it with the subject for clarity.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 奖励 connects with other advanced vocabulary related to motivation and success, such as 赞扬 (zan4 yang2, to praise) and 成就 (cheng2 jiu4, achievement). Students should focus on its usage in sentences to build fluency and recognize its application in various contexts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, rewards are often used as a motivational tool in educational settings, where teachers encourage students not just through grades, but also through tangible rewards like gifts or certificates. This practice reflects the value placed on achievement and recognition in society.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 奖励 as a direct translation for 'to reward' without context, which can lead to awkward sentences. For example, saying '我奖励' alone is incorrect; it should be '我奖励我的团队' (I reward my team) for clarity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 奖励
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Grammar Patterns of 奖励
奖励 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
To encourage more people to participate in environmental activities, the community has established a special reward system.
Cultural Notes for 奖励
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, rewards are often used as a motivational tool in educational settings, where teachers encourage students not just through grades, but also through tangible rewards like gifts or certificates. This practice reflects the value placed on achievement and recognition in society.
Frequently Asked Questions about 奖励
You can use it as '老师奖励学生' (The teacher rewards the students) to indicate who is being rewarded.
It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but is more common in formal situations like work and education.
Yes, you can say '我奖励自己' (I reward myself), but context matters to convey the right meaning.
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